WhatsApp Develops New Feature to Combat Misinformation

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Category: Technology/Innovations

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. fact-check / ˈfæktˌtʃɛk / (v) – to confirm if a piece of information is correct
    Example:

    It is important to fact-check the news you read online.


  2. redirect / ˌri dɪˈrɛkt / (v) – to lead to another address or location online
    Example:

    If you click this link, you will be redirected to another page.


  3. questionable / ˈkwɛs tʃə nə bəl / (adj) – likely to be false or incorrect
    Example:

    If you see any questionable statements, you should confirm right away if they’re correct.


  4. circulate / ˈsɜr kyəˌleɪt / (v) – to spread
    Example:

    A lot of rumors about the actor have been circulating on social media.


  5. reach out / ritʃ aʊt / (phrasal) – to communicate with a person or a group for the possibility of working together
    Example:

    The organization has reached out to groups with the same advocacy to propose a collaboration.


Article

Read the text below.

Messaging application WhatsApp has unveiled a new feature that enables users to easily fact-check the contents of forwarded messages.


The new feature appears as a magnifying glass icon located beside forwarded messages.  Clicking the icon will show users a “Search Web” option, which will redirect them to Google and automatically look for sources related to the messages’ content.


The feature is an important addition to the messaging app, which is often used as a tool for spreading misinformation and fake news. It is also relevant because more and more people are relying on messaging apps as their main source of information nowadays.


Through the new feature, users may conveniently check a questionable message forwarded to them. A cybersecurity expert said the new feature simplifies the process of fact-checking viral messages circulating on WhatsApp as it eliminates the need to copy and paste messages from the app to search engines.


According to WhatsApp, it began testing the feature in April and will release it to the public as soon as it is ready.


With the rise of social media and instant messaging platforms, the spread of fake news and misinformation has become a major problem in recent years. WhatsApp and other popular platforms have been continuously working to address this issue.


Just last February, WhatsApp also reached out to several organizations and governments to gather support for providing accurate information to the public. This collaboration led to the launch of a WhatsApp chatbot, which can answer some of the most asked questions from users.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• Do you think WhatsApp’s latest feature can help combat misinformation and fake news? Why or why not?
• Aside from the new WhatsApp feature, how else can people verify the accuracy of the news they are reading? Discuss.

Discussion B

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of using social media when sharing information? Discuss.
• Do you think that social media and messaging platforms should take responsibility for the information that is circulated on them? Discuss.